US4876450A - Cryosonde for well logging tool - Google Patents
Cryosonde for well logging tool Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US4876450A US4876450A US07/224,511 US22451188A US4876450A US 4876450 A US4876450 A US 4876450A US 22451188 A US22451188 A US 22451188A US 4876450 A US4876450 A US 4876450A
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- cryosonde
- rupture
- housing
- tube
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- Expired - Fee Related
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- 239000013078 crystal Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 29
- 239000003507 refrigerant Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 19
- 229910052732 germanium Inorganic materials 0.000 claims abstract description 10
- GNPVGFCGXDBREM-UHFFFAOYSA-N germanium atom Chemical compound [Ge] GNPVGFCGXDBREM-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims abstract description 10
- 238000001816 cooling Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 7
- 239000000945 filler Substances 0.000 claims description 13
- 239000011888 foil Substances 0.000 claims description 6
- 239000012530 fluid Substances 0.000 claims description 5
- 239000012528 membrane Substances 0.000 claims description 5
- 238000004891 communication Methods 0.000 claims description 4
- 238000007789 sealing Methods 0.000 claims description 4
- 229910052782 aluminium Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 3
- XAGFODPZIPBFFR-UHFFFAOYSA-N aluminium Chemical compound [Al] XAGFODPZIPBFFR-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 3
- 238000013022 venting Methods 0.000 claims description 2
- RYGMFSIKBFXOCR-UHFFFAOYSA-N Copper Chemical compound [Cu] RYGMFSIKBFXOCR-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 12
- 229910052802 copper Inorganic materials 0.000 description 12
- 239000010949 copper Substances 0.000 description 12
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 description 5
- IJGRMHOSHXDMSA-UHFFFAOYSA-N Atomic nitrogen Chemical compound N#N IJGRMHOSHXDMSA-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 4
- 230000015572 biosynthetic process Effects 0.000 description 4
- 238000005755 formation reaction Methods 0.000 description 4
- 239000007787 solid Substances 0.000 description 4
- 229910001220 stainless steel Inorganic materials 0.000 description 4
- 239000010935 stainless steel Substances 0.000 description 4
- -1 e.g. Substances 0.000 description 3
- 238000012423 maintenance Methods 0.000 description 3
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 3
- 238000010521 absorption reaction Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000005219 brazing Methods 0.000 description 2
- 229910052738 indium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- APFVFJFRJDLVQX-UHFFFAOYSA-N indium atom Chemical compound [In] APFVFJFRJDLVQX-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 238000009413 insulation Methods 0.000 description 2
- 229910052757 nitrogen Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Chemical compound O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 238000003466 welding Methods 0.000 description 2
- BQCADISMDOOEFD-UHFFFAOYSA-N Silver Chemical compound [Ag] BQCADISMDOOEFD-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 229910000831 Steel Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 230000000903 blocking effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000004927 clay Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000004020 conductor Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000010276 construction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000007797 corrosion Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000005260 corrosion Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000004907 flux Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000007710 freezing Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000008014 freezing Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000005251 gamma ray Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000003754 machining Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 229910052751 metal Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
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- 239000010959 steel Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000010792 warming Methods 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
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- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
- E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- E21B47/00—Survey of boreholes or wells
- E21B47/01—Devices for supporting measuring instruments on drill bits, pipes, rods or wirelines; Protecting measuring instruments in boreholes against heat, shock, pressure or the like
- E21B47/017—Protecting measuring instruments
- E21B47/0175—Cooling arrangements
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
- F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
- F17C3/00—Vessels not under pressure
- F17C3/02—Vessels not under pressure with provision for thermal insulation
- F17C3/08—Vessels not under pressure with provision for thermal insulation by vacuum spaces, e.g. Dewar flask
- F17C3/085—Cryostats
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
- E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- E21B47/00—Survey of boreholes or wells
- E21B47/01—Devices for supporting measuring instruments on drill bits, pipes, rods or wirelines; Protecting measuring instruments in boreholes against heat, shock, pressure or the like
- E21B47/017—Protecting measuring instruments
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
- F25B19/00—Machines, plants or systems, using evaporation of a refrigerant but without recovery of the vapour
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F25D19/00—Arrangement or mounting of refrigeration units with respect to devices or objects to be refrigerated, e.g. infrared detectors
- F25D19/006—Thermal coupling structure or interface
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F25D3/00—Devices using other cold materials; Devices using cold-storage bodies
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01V—GEOPHYSICS; GRAVITATIONAL MEASUREMENTS; DETECTING MASSES OR OBJECTS; TAGS
- G01V5/00—Prospecting or detecting by the use of ionising radiation, e.g. of natural or induced radioactivity
- G01V5/04—Prospecting or detecting by the use of ionising radiation, e.g. of natural or induced radioactivity specially adapted for well-logging
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
- F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
- F17C2201/00—Vessel construction, in particular geometry, arrangement or size
- F17C2201/01—Shape
- F17C2201/0104—Shape cylindrical
- F17C2201/0119—Shape cylindrical with flat end-piece
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
- F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
- F17C2203/00—Vessel construction, in particular walls or details thereof
- F17C2203/03—Thermal insulations
- F17C2203/0391—Thermal insulations by vacuum
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
- F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
- F17C2203/00—Vessel construction, in particular walls or details thereof
- F17C2203/06—Materials for walls or layers thereof; Properties or structures of walls or their materials
- F17C2203/0602—Wall structures; Special features thereof
- F17C2203/0612—Wall structures
- F17C2203/0626—Multiple walls
- F17C2203/0629—Two walls
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
- F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
- F17C2205/00—Vessel construction, in particular mounting arrangements, attachments or identifications means
- F17C2205/03—Fluid connections, filters, valves, closure means or other attachments
- F17C2205/0302—Fittings, valves, filters, or components in connection with the gas storage device
- F17C2205/0311—Closure means
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
- F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
- F17C2205/00—Vessel construction, in particular mounting arrangements, attachments or identifications means
- F17C2205/03—Fluid connections, filters, valves, closure means or other attachments
- F17C2205/0302—Fittings, valves, filters, or components in connection with the gas storage device
- F17C2205/0341—Filters
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
- F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
- F17C2209/00—Vessel construction, in particular methods of manufacturing
- F17C2209/22—Assembling processes
- F17C2209/228—Assembling processes by screws, bolts or rivets
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
- F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
- F17C2221/00—Handled fluid, in particular type of fluid
- F17C2221/03—Mixtures
- F17C2221/038—Refrigerants
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
- F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
- F17C2223/00—Handled fluid before transfer, i.e. state of fluid when stored in the vessel or before transfer from the vessel
- F17C2223/01—Handled fluid before transfer, i.e. state of fluid when stored in the vessel or before transfer from the vessel characterised by the phase
- F17C2223/0146—Two-phase
- F17C2223/0153—Liquefied gas, e.g. LPG, GPL
- F17C2223/0161—Liquefied gas, e.g. LPG, GPL cryogenic, e.g. LNG, GNL, PLNG
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a cyrosonde for a well logging tool and in one of its preferred aspects relates to a cryosonde having a refrigerant chamber which has a rupture means which fails at a pressure less than the pressure required to rupture the chamber.
- Logging tools are available which are capable of running logs in wells which have been cased with steel casing.
- Such tools typically consist of a neutron generator for emitting neutrons and a detector for detecting the gamma-rays that are produced by collision or absorption of the neutrons with atoms in the surrounding environment, with primary interest in gamma-rays from the various formations lying behind the casing.
- detectors used in gamma-ray tools
- Geiger-Mueller detectors proportional counters, ionization chambers, scintillation detectors, etc.
- detectors have been developed which utilize a germanium crystal for detecting the reflected gamma-rays.
- a cryosonde has a refrigerant chamber which is filled with a refrigerant, e.g., freon, which, in turn, is frozen solid by a cryogenic liquid, e.g., liquid nitrogren.
- a refrigerant e.g., freon
- the chamber provides the cooling for the crystal for extended periods while the logging tool is in a well.
- freon eventually will melt and warm up causing pressure in the chamber to build. If the vent tube to the chamber becomes plugged with debris or the pressure buildup is too rapid, the chamber will rupture and will have to be replaced before the logging tool can be used again. This requires the cryosonde to be made in parts which can readily be disassembled to remove the damaged chamber.
- a ruptured refrigerant chamber and/or loss of the insultative vacuum in a cryosonde result in a substantially shortened operational life and increased maintenance problems. Further, the replacement of a refrigerant chamber requires that the logging tool be taken out of service for an extended period resulting in substantial downtime and expense.
- the present invention provides a cryosonde for a logging tool which includes protection against rupture of the refrigerant chamber and eliminates the need for the seals which often fail resulting in the loss of the insulative vacuum in the cryosonde.
- the cryosonde of the present invention is comprised of a housing which is adapted to be assembled into a well logging tool.
- a germanium crystal detector and a means for cooling the crystal to its operating temperature are positioned in the housing.
- the cooling means is comprised of a refrigerant chamber which cools the crystal through a copper rod which depends from the chamber into contact with the crystal.
- a capillary tube is provided for filling the refrigerant chamber with refrigerant, e.g., freon, and for venting the chamber after the filling operation has been completed.
- refrigerant e.g., freon
- a filter is positioned over the opening of the tube whereby all fluids flowing into or out of the chamber will be filtered therethrough thereby preventing debris from plugging the tube.
- the cap which closes the upper end of the chamber has a rupture means thereon which is in fluid communication with the inteior of the chamber and which is adapted to rupture at a pressure which is less than the pressure required to rupture the chamber, itself.
- the rupture means is a removable plug having a bore therethrough which is normally closed by a replaceable, sealing membrane, e.g., aluminum foil. Any excessive buildup of pressure in the chamber will rupture the inexpensive and easily replaceable membrane thereby preventing damage to the more expensive and difficult to replace chamber.
- the cryosonde includes a sleeve in the housing which forms (1) a first annulus around the chamber and (2) a second insulative annulus around the first annulus, and a cryogenic filler tube therethrough by which a cryogenic liquid, e.g., liquid nitrogen, can be flowed to the first annulus to freeze the freon in the chamber.
- a cryogenic liquid e.g., liquid nitrogen
- the second annulus is evacuated to provide insulation for the freon chamber.
- the rupture means is positioned on the chamber so that it will lie directly in line with the filler tube and is easily accessible therethrough. This allows the rupture means to be quickly removed and replaced through the filler tube without requiring disassembly of the cryosonde. Accordingly, the component parts of the cryosonde can be permanently assembled, e.g., welded together, thereby eliminating the need for seals that can fail during operation of the cryosonde.
- FIG. 1 illustrates a typical logging tool in a wellbore
- FIG. 2 is a sectional view, partly broken away, of a prior art cryosonde
- FIG. 3 is a sectional view, partly broken away of the cryosonde of the present invention.
- FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of the rupture means used in the cryosonde of FIG. 3.
- FIG. 1 illustrates a typical neutron logging tool 10 of the type used to run a "through the casing" log in cased well 11.
- Tool 10 is comprised of data electronic section 12, a detector section 13, a neutron generator section 14, and an electronic section 15 for driving the neutron generator. All of these sections are coupled together to form a unitary housing which, in turn, is suspended in well 11 on wireline 16.
- tool 10 is raised in well 11, as the neutron generator in section 14 is actuated to emit neutrons which penetrate the casing in the well and the formations behind the casing. These neutrons produce gamma-rays by collision or absorption with atoms which are unique to a given atom type from the formations back through the casing and into well 11.
- the resulting gamma-rays are sensed by a detector 20 in section 13 which, in turn, transmits them to data section 12 where they are processed before being transmitted to the surface through wireline 16 for further processing into the desired log.
- Cryosonde 20 There are different types of detectors 20 which may be used in tool 10, one of which is commonly referred to as a "cryosonde". Cryosondes are well known and are commercially available, e.g., Model X-4 Sonde, Princeton Gamma Tech, Inc., Princeton, N.J. The details of such a prior art cryosonde 20 are illustrated in FIG. 2.
- Cryosonde 20 is comprised of a housing 22 (e.g., 2--7/8" 0.D., 45" long, stainless steel cylinder) which is to be mounted within the housing of section 13 (FIG. 1). Positioned in the lower end of housing 22 is germanium crystal 21 which detects the gamma-rays as they are reflected by the various formations during the logging operation. As understood in the art, for the germanium to properly function, its temperature must be maintained at cyrogenic temperatures, e.g., -135° C. or lower.
- refrigerant chamber 23 is positioned within housing 22 above the crystal.
- Chamber 23 is constructed from a good heat-conductive material (e.g., 1.9" 0.D., 27" long cylinder of copper pipe) which has about 2 inches of the wall at each end machined down to about half of its original thickness.
- a copper bottom cap 25 with its wall the same thickness as that of the machined area of chamber 23 is fitted over the lower end of chamber 23 and is soldered or brazed thereon, thereby restoring the lower end of chamber 23 to its original thickness and strength.
- Bottom cap 25 must be of good heat conduction material, e.g., copper, as will become obvious below.
- Thermal communication between refrigerant chamber 23 and crystal 21 is provided by solid copper rod 27 which is integral with bottom cap 25 and which extends downward into contact with crystal 21.
- Sieve basket 28 e.g., material similar to expanded clay having a high surface area
- Electronics, e.g., condensers 29, etc., related to the operation of crystal 21 are positioned on support 30 which, in turn, is positioned on rod 27, and are operated through leads (not shown for brevity). Both sieve basket 28 and crystal 21 are within an insulative enclosure 31 to prevent excessive heat gains by the crystal.
- Refrigerant chamber 23 is filled with a refrigerant, e.g., freon, through capillary tube 33 (e.g., standard 1/8 stainless steel tubing) which also serves as a vent for chamber 23 during operation of tool 10.
- a sleeve 34 surrounds chamber 23 to form (1) a first annulus 35 between chamber 23 and sleeve 34 and (2) a second annulus 36 between sleeve 34 and housing 22.
- Sleeve 34 is closed at its lower end by plate 37 and at its upper end by filler cap 38, both of which are bolted in place and sealed by expensive indium seals 40.
- a filler tube 41 extends upward from cap 38 for a purpose described below.
- Cover 42 closes the top of housing 22 and is held in place by split ring 43.
- Conduit 44 extends upward from cover 42, and is sealed with relation to filler tube 42 by welding 42 and 44 at top to seal off the upper end of annulus 36 within housing 22.
- a one-way valve 45 provides fluid access to annulus 36 through which annulus 36 can be evacuated to create a high vacuum, insulative space around sleeve 34 to prevent excessive heat gains to chamber 23.
- cryosonde 20 is prepared for use by pulling a high vacuum on annulus 36 which provides good insulation and protects the crystal prior to filling chamber 23 with freon and then flowing liquid nitrogen through filler tube 41 and into annulus 35 to freeze the freon solid. Cryosonde 20 is then assembled into tool 10 for a logging operation. The cryosonde will provide the necessary cooling for crystal 21 for up to 12 hours at 100° C. conditions and up to 24 hours at room temperatures before the freon temperature rises above the operational point and cryosonde has to be serviced.
- chamber 23 is a very susceptible to rupture due to the internal pressure buildup caused by the freon "warming up” during a logging operation.
- the pressure is vented through vent tube 33 but it has been found that the small diameter of tube 33 is easily stopped up by foreign particles which may come from (1) corrosion, (2) oxidation of the inside of copper chamber 23 during manufacture, (3) flux trapped in chamber 23 from the brazing operations, and (4) frozen water or oil droplets that may have been introduced from the freon supply.
- vent tube 33 plugged and the temperature of the freon rising, it is not uncommon for the resulting pressure buildup in chamber 23 to rupture chamber 23 thereby making cryosonde inoperable.
- the prior art sondes had to be constructed so that chamber 23 was relatively easy to replace. This was done by bolting filler cap 38 and bottom plate 37 onto sleeve 34 and using Indium seals 40 therebetween.
- seals 40 routinely fail, resulting in the loss of the vacuum in annulus 35 which, in turn, causes rapid warm up of the cryosonde and potential damage to germanium crystal 21. When this occurs, it normally causes from several days to several weeks delay in the logging operation due to the necessary extensive repair of cryosonde 20.
- a cryosonde is provided that overcomes many of the severe operational and maintenance problems encountered in presently known, prior art cryosondes of this type.
- cryosonde 20a of the present invention is comprised of housing 20 having refrigerant chamber 23a therein.
- Chamber 23a is sealed at its lower end by copper, bottom cap 25a, which, in turn, has solid copper rod 27 extending downard therefrom and into contact with germanium crystal 21.
- Bottom cap 25a extends into the copper pipe (e.g., 0.25 inch) to seal chamber 23 without any machining of the lower wall of chamber 23 being required.
- a v-shaped groove (not shown) is formed where chamber 23 and cap 25a meet which, in turn is filled with silver brazing material that is actually stronger than the copper (i.e., chamber 23 and cap 25a) which is being joined.
- any unbonded point within the overlap between the lower wall of chamber 23 and cap 25a is still as strong as the main wall of the chamber 23, thereby eliminating any weak points and preventing failure of chamber 23 at this point such as that previously experienced in prior art cryosondes.
- Rupture 50 (FIG. 4) is preferably comprised of pipe plug 51 having a threaded bore 52 therethrough.
- Sealing membrane 54 (e.g., 0.0015 inch thick aluminum foil) is positioned between washer 53 and 0-ring 55 in bore 52 and is held by a second washer 56, all of which are secured in bore 52 by screw 57 which, in turn, has bore 58 therethrough. It can be seen that excessive pressure buildup in chamber 23 will cause foil 54 to rupture and the freon under pressure will be relieved through bore 58 without any damage to chamber 23, itself.
- Rupture means 50 is positioned in cap 26a so that it is in a direct vertical line with fill tube 41 in filler cap 38a so that when foil 54 ruptures, a long-necked socket tool (not shown) can be easily inserted through fill tube 42 to unscrew and retrieve means 50. After foil 54 has been replaced, means 50 can then be easily replaced in cap 26a through tube 41. This is a quick and inexpensive procedure which requires a minimum of downtime as compared to that required to replace a rupture chamber in prior art cryosondes.
- the inside diameter of capillary tube 33a is substantially doubled while the outside diameter remains substantially the same as in the prior art sonde (FIG. 2).
- This not only makes tube 33a harder to plug, but the reduced metal in the walls of tube 33a reduces heat conduction to the interior of chamber 23a, thereby adding to the operation life of the frozen freon in chamber 23a.
- a porous stainless steel filter 55 e.g., 50 micron filter, 2" long, 3/8 diameter
- Filter 55 provides a surface area many times larger than the opening of tube 33a, making it extremely difficult to plug. Also, filter 55 prevents any large pieces of frozen freon from blocking tube 33a.
- filter cap 38a and bottom plate 37a can be permanently secured to sleeve 34a (e.g., by welding or the like) and seals 40 (FIG. 2) can be eliminated. This substantially reduces the possibility of vacuum loss from annulus 36 which, in turn, substantially extends the operational life of cryosonde 20a.
- cryosonde of the present invention offers many improvements over known, prior art cryosondes which substantially increases its operational life and which substantially reduces the maintenance involved with such sondes.
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Abstract
Description
Claims (6)
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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US07/224,511 US4876450A (en) | 1988-07-26 | 1988-07-26 | Cryosonde for well logging tool |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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US07/224,511 US4876450A (en) | 1988-07-26 | 1988-07-26 | Cryosonde for well logging tool |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
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US4876450A true US4876450A (en) | 1989-10-24 |
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ID=22841021
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
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US07/224,511 Expired - Fee Related US4876450A (en) | 1988-07-26 | 1988-07-26 | Cryosonde for well logging tool |
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US (1) | US4876450A (en) |
Cited By (9)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US5265677A (en) * | 1992-07-08 | 1993-11-30 | Halliburton Company | Refrigerant-cooled downhole tool and method |
WO2000073624A1 (en) * | 1999-05-29 | 2000-12-07 | Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. | Thermal insulation vessel |
US20040035552A1 (en) * | 2000-08-18 | 2004-02-26 | Shengheng Xu | Well water type liquid cooling and heating resource system |
US20100072398A1 (en) * | 2008-09-19 | 2010-03-25 | Saint-Gobain Ceramics & Plastics, Inc. | Method of forming a scintillator device |
RU2488147C2 (en) * | 2011-07-06 | 2013-07-20 | Федеральное государственное автономное образовательное учреждение высшего профессионального образования "Казанский (Приволжский) Федеральный Университет" (ФГАОУ ВПО КФУ) | Method to exhaust vapours of cryogenic liquids from cryogenic system of submersible logging equipment |
US10317558B2 (en) * | 2017-03-14 | 2019-06-11 | Saudi Arabian Oil Company | EMU impulse antenna |
US10330815B2 (en) | 2017-03-14 | 2019-06-25 | Saudi Arabian Oil Company | EMU impulse antenna for low frequency radio waves using giant dielectric and ferrite materials |
US10338264B1 (en) | 2017-03-14 | 2019-07-02 | Saudi Arabian Oil Company | EMU impulse antenna with controlled directionality and improved impedance matching |
US10365393B2 (en) | 2017-11-07 | 2019-07-30 | Saudi Arabian Oil Company | Giant dielectric nanoparticles as high contrast agents for electromagnetic (EM) fluids imaging in an oil reservoir |
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US4317993A (en) * | 1978-01-16 | 1982-03-02 | Schlumberger Technology Corporation | Methods and apparatus for constituent analysis of earth formations |
US4327290A (en) * | 1979-11-02 | 1982-04-27 | Schlumberger Technology Corp. | Method and apparatus for nuclear well logging with optimized timing for simultaneous measurement of thermal neutron decay time and gamma ray pulse height spectra |
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Cited By (16)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US5265677A (en) * | 1992-07-08 | 1993-11-30 | Halliburton Company | Refrigerant-cooled downhole tool and method |
WO2000073624A1 (en) * | 1999-05-29 | 2000-12-07 | Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. | Thermal insulation vessel |
US6220346B1 (en) | 1999-05-29 | 2001-04-24 | Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. | Thermal insulation vessel |
US20040035552A1 (en) * | 2000-08-18 | 2004-02-26 | Shengheng Xu | Well water type liquid cooling and heating resource system |
US6925830B2 (en) * | 2000-08-18 | 2005-08-09 | Shengheng Xu | Well-water-type liquid cooling and heating resource system |
US20100072398A1 (en) * | 2008-09-19 | 2010-03-25 | Saint-Gobain Ceramics & Plastics, Inc. | Method of forming a scintillator device |
US8604416B2 (en) * | 2008-09-19 | 2013-12-10 | Saint-Gobain Ceramics & Plastics, Inc. | Method of forming a scintillator device |
RU2488147C2 (en) * | 2011-07-06 | 2013-07-20 | Федеральное государственное автономное образовательное учреждение высшего профессионального образования "Казанский (Приволжский) Федеральный Университет" (ФГАОУ ВПО КФУ) | Method to exhaust vapours of cryogenic liquids from cryogenic system of submersible logging equipment |
US10317558B2 (en) * | 2017-03-14 | 2019-06-11 | Saudi Arabian Oil Company | EMU impulse antenna |
US10330815B2 (en) | 2017-03-14 | 2019-06-25 | Saudi Arabian Oil Company | EMU impulse antenna for low frequency radio waves using giant dielectric and ferrite materials |
US10338266B1 (en) | 2017-03-14 | 2019-07-02 | Saudi Arabian Oil Company | EMU impulse antenna for low frequency radio waves using giant dielectric and ferrite materials |
US10338264B1 (en) | 2017-03-14 | 2019-07-02 | Saudi Arabian Oil Company | EMU impulse antenna with controlled directionality and improved impedance matching |
US10416335B2 (en) | 2017-03-14 | 2019-09-17 | Saudi Arabian Oil Company | EMU impulse antenna with controlled directionality and improved impedance matching |
US10591626B2 (en) | 2017-03-14 | 2020-03-17 | Saudi Arabian Oil Company | EMU impulse antenna |
US10365393B2 (en) | 2017-11-07 | 2019-07-30 | Saudi Arabian Oil Company | Giant dielectric nanoparticles as high contrast agents for electromagnetic (EM) fluids imaging in an oil reservoir |
US10690798B2 (en) | 2017-11-07 | 2020-06-23 | Saudi Arabian Oil Company | Giant dielectric nanoparticles as high contrast agents for electromagnetic (EM) fluids imaging in an oil reservoir |
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